At two o’clock in the afternoon, Roger Aldridge presented himself at my office. There was a criss-cross of bags beneath his eyes and his doleful expression had an aspect of failure like a husband about to commence an argument with his wife. “I believe,” he said, “my initial error was bringing those contracts to Jonathan. The more I think about it, the more I believe that move precipitated this series of events. But it’s easy to be wise—after the fact.”
“Second guessers never win.”
“Be that as it may, I am very near a decision.”
“You’re the client.”
“I’m going to pay, Mr. Chambers.”
“Pardon?”
“I’m going to pay up and shut up. What do you say to that?”
“I say you’re nuts.”
“Why?”
“Because blackmail never ends.”
“But I’d get back those letters. That’s all she has—that’s irrefutable.”
“She can make photostats. It can go on and on.”
“No,” he said. “I’d pay, and effect the return of six letters.” Then, coldly, he added: “If she monkeyed with me after that—I’d kill her.”
“Simple as that?”
“Yes. Essentially I’m a meek man. I’m willing to compromise—”
“Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. That’s a hell of a lot of compromise.”
“But even the meekest of us, jockeyed into a corner, and then pushed … we’ll jump. I’ll make a business deal with her but if after that, she tries any funny stuff—I’ll kill her. I’m going to make that perfectly clear to her.”
I lit a cigarette. I said, “How’s it figure, Mr. Aldridge?”
“A partnership in Winston Parnell would mean approximately three hundred thousand dollars a year to me. The kind of notoriety she plans would of course, wreck it. I consider it good business therefore, in these circumstances, to pay the equivalent of one year’s earnings to protect such earnings for the remainder of my working life. Do you see my point, sir?”
“Yes, I suppose I do. Have you got that kind of dough? To spare?”
“Frankly, I don’t. I earn a good deal of money, but what with taxes and my necessary mode of living—my savings are meager.”
“Then how do you propose to pay it?”
“I’ve decided to discuss it with my uncle. You know about his will.”
“Yes.”
“It’s common knowledge … well, family knowledge … that’s he’s worth at least a million dollars, in cash. It is also no secret that half of that goes to me upon his death, the other half to charity. I’m going to ask him to advance two hundred and fifty thousand dollars from my half right now … as a loan … to be returned by me in three yearly installments.”
“You going to tell him what it’s about?”
“I’m going to tell him the entire story. Which brings me to another point. I should like a favor of you.”
“Me? At the prices you’re paying—a pleasure.”
“My uncle has a great deal of confidence in you. I have an appointment with him for three o’clock. I should like you to come there, say … at five … five o’clock. You’ll corroborate my facts. And today’s the best day to talk with him.”
“Why today?”
“It’s Emerson Beach’s day off.”
“Beach?”
“His valet.”
“Oh yes.”
“Beach leaves in the morning and doesn’t return until five o’clock. That gives me two hours alone with my uncle, just the two of us, all alone. Then you’ll come and I’ve also asked Warren Dodge to drop by. Like that, my uncle will know the whole story, and he’ll be able to have a rounded view, the opinion of each of us. Will you come, Mr. Chambers?”
“Sure.”
“Thank you. Thank you very much.”
He rose and we shook hands and he went away. I killed my cigarette and went to the window. I saw him come out of the building and hail a cab. Another cab, parked at the curb, shot out after his. I had a hunch that Roger Aldridge had grown a tail.